Tire-carrier



j usted to receive if it is desired to are locked. appear.

'ing lever released and the THOMAS A. HOOVER, OF FRESNO, CALIFORNIA.

. TIRE-CARRIER.

Application led October 30, 1918, Serial No. 260,233.

To all whom 'it may concern.:

e it known that l, THOMAS A. Hoovnn, a citizen of the United States, residing` at Fresno, in the county oi Fresno and State of California, have invented new and useful niprovements in Tire-Carriers, ot which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for carrying spare or extra tires on automobiles, and one of the objects ot' the invention is to provide a simple, substantial, easily operated carrier which may be securely attached to the back or other portion of an automobile and rigidly support one or more tires, as the owner may desire.

Another object of 'the invention is to provide a tire carrier that may be readily adany size tire; and, furthermore, to provide a sprilig-supported clamping` member which may be instantly released remove a tire, and which will positively prevent rattle when the tires Other objects will hereinafter The invention consists of the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanyinnr drawings in which- 4igure 1 is a` rear view ot' an automobile 'showing the position of the tire carrier.

Fig'. 2 is a perspective view of the tire carrier showingnr the position. A

Fig. 3 is a similari' view showing the locktire in position before removal.

l'teterring` to the drawings in detail, A indicates a base plate which is adapted to be secured to the rear end of an automobile. Secured to the base plate by means of U bolts 2 and 3 is a Y-shaped frame consistingy ot a pair of Aparallel leg members 4 and a pair of arms 5. The upper ends of the arms 5 are turned at right angles and extended,as shown at 6, to provide a pair oit' supportingr arms for the tire, generally indicated at B, each extension 6 having secured on the upper side a plate 7 which is recessed, as at 8 and 9, to receive one or more tires and secure the same against endwise movement thereon.

Adjustably secured to the base plate fi and the leg' portion of the Y frame'y is/a spring arm 1U, the upper end or" wlfch is Specification of Letters Patent.

. arm forms locking lever in locked y the legs ot Patented Apr. 20, 192). Renewed February 24, 1920. Serial No. 360,761.

turned, as at 11, to form a support for a locking arm, generally indicated at C. This a toggle connection between the upper end ot the springr 11 and a` lock and clamping lever, generally indicated at 12. This lever is pivotally secured to the lower end ot the spring arm n10, as at 13, and the lower face of the lever is recessed, as at 8a and 9, to engage the tire rims, as shown, The locking arm consists of the arm C pivotally attached to the upper end ot' the spring` arm, as at 1l. It furthermore consists of a link 15, which is pivotally attached to the arm C at the upper end, as at lil, nd at its lower end, as at .17, to the locking' lever 12, the locking arm beingV provided with a handle 1S to permit it to be readily manipulated and also to permit the application of an ordinary pad lock, as shown at 19. This pad lock serves the function of locking the arm and link 15 against independent movement with relation to each other, thereby preventing' clamping lever 12 when the tires have been placed in position on the carrier.

In actual operation, it itis desired to place a tire on the carrier, it is only necessary `to swing the arm C up into the position shown at 2O in Fig. 3. This movement is transmitted through the link to litt the lever 12 to the position shown at 21. It is therefore'possible to place one or more tires in. position and to securely lock the same by merely returning the arm C and the lever 12 back to the lockingA and clamping position, as shown by full lines in Fig. 2. Similarly, if it is desired to remove a tire, it can be instantly accomplished by again lifting' the levers.I said movement of the levers causing the clamping member 12 to be elevalcd so that the tire may be readily removed.

Une of the important features of the present invention is the adjustable mountiimr of the spring arm 10. This arm is secured to the Y frame and also to the base plate by means of U bolts 3 and 22. By loosening' said bolts it will be obvious that it is possible to adjust the position of the spring arm vertically, thus raising,r the locking lever 12 and the arm C as these are carried by said arm. This permits the carrier to be adjusted for different sized tires, which considerable importance, different et automobiles employ tires ot varying sizes. The carrier can therefore be aprelease of thev plied to any car, as ,it maj,T be adjustedto the size tire required.

Af'lnothei.` important feature of the present invention is the provision of the spring ariii l0. This arm is yielding to a certain eX- tent, and, as it carries the locking arm C and the lever l2, it will be obvious that the tires when placed on the carrier will be rigidly clamped and constantly subjected to the binding force and tension of the spring arm. This feature does not only permit more latiftude of adjustment, but it also positively prevents rattling between the supporting Wish it understood that these features may tire engaging parts be 'varied Similarly the materials and linisli of the several part-s may be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate.

Having thus described my invention, what claim and desire to secure by Letters l?atent is:

l. ln a tire carrier, a pair .of tiie engaging elements, a. leaf spring element adjustably mounted between saidpair of elements, n and tire engaging member movably con nected to the spring element so as to be tensioned thereby.

Q. .ln a tiie carrier, a pair of tire engaging elements, a leaf spring adjustably mounted between said pair of elements and having one end free and unsupported, a third tire engaging element, and means to mountv said 'third tire engaging element so as to resilientlyv support same from said free end of the spring and to alloiv the element to swing in a plane at right angles to the plane of the tire.

3. ln a tire carrier, a pair of tire engaging elements, a leaf spring element having an end thereof turned outwardly, a third tire engaging element, means to swingingly connect said third tire engaging element to said out turned end of thespring element,/ and means to adjustably mount the opposite end of said. spring element and to rigidly secure same in adjusted position.

4t. 'in a tire carrier, a frame, a pair of t borne by the frame, a

vertically slidable spring element between the parts, means to hold said element in adjusted position, tire engaging member pivoted to the spi-ing element adjacent one end thereof andmeans between the oppositev end of tlie spring element and said member to hold the latter in operative position under tension.

5. tire carrier comprising a pair of stationary supporting members, a pivotally mounted clamping and locking lever supported by the carrier and means permitting vertical sliding and fixed adjustment ofthe pivotal point of said lever.

6. A tire carrier comprising a pair of sta# tionary supporting members, a pivotally mounted clamping and locking lever and a leaf spring support for said lever.

7. A tire carrier comprising a pair 'of stationary supporting members, a pivotally mounted clamping and locking lever, a spring support for said lever, and means permitting vertical sliding adjustment of the spring support.

8. A tire carrier comprising a frame provided ivith fixed transverse supporting arms spaced apart and adapted to engage the inner face of a tire, a locking lever pivotally attached to said frame adapted to engage the tire at a point intermediate the'supporting arms, means for 'adjusting the position of said lever vertically by sliding thereof, and means for locking-'said lever against movement about its pivot when in -engagement with a tire.

9. A tire carrier comprising a frame provided With fixed transverse supporting arms spaced apart and adapted to engage the in! ner face of a tire, a locking lever adapted Ato engage the tire at a point intermediate the supporting arms, a vertically adjustable spring member secured to the frame, a pivotal connection between-the locking lever and-the lower end of said spring member and a toggle device attached to the upper end of the spring member and at the lower end to the free end of the locking lever.

10. A tire carrier comprising a frame piovided with fixed transverse supporting arms spaced apart and adapted to engage the inner face of a tire, a locking lever, a pivotal mounting for said lever, a leaf spring member, and a toggle device'pivotally attached at one end to one end of the spring member and to thev locking lever.

11. A tire carrier comprising a frame pro- 4videdivith lixed transverse supporting arms spaced apart and adapted to engage the in ner face ofa tire, a locking lever, 'a pivotal mounting for said lever, a leafspring member, a toggle device pivotally attached to one end of the spring member and tothe locking lever and means for locking the toggie device against movement when the locking lever is in engagement With the tire.

l2. A; tire carrier comprising a if-shaped 'frame provided with fixed transverse supporting arms spaced apart and adapted to engage the inner face of a tire, a spring plate secured to the leg portion ofthe Y frame, means permitting vertical adjustment of said spring plate, a locking lever pivotally mounted on the spring plate and adapted to engage the tire at a point intermediate the supporting arms, a toggle device pivotally attached to the locking lever and the spring and means or locking the toggle device against movement when the locking lever engages the tire.

13. In a tire carrier, a pair of' tire engaging elements, a'leaf spring element, a third tn'e engaging element pivoted to one endof said spring element, a memberfpivoted to the opposite end of said spring element,

' means between saidmember and the third tire engaging element to hold the latter in operative position,l and means to adjustably mount said spring element.

14. In a tire carrier, apair of tire engaging elements, a spring element, means to support said spring element between said pair of elements, a tire en aging member pivoted to one end of the spring element, an

operating member pivoted to the opposite end of the spring element, and means to connect said operating member and tireengaging member.

-In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS A. HOOVER. IVitnesses:

T. W. S'rooK'roN, G. N. BROWN. 

